Henry William Bonadio, 87, of Elizabeth Township, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024. He was born on August 23, 1936 in Vanderbilt and was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Pepe) Bonadio. Hank was a 1955 Graduate of Glassport High School, where he met his loving wife of 55 years, Linda Gail (Shuster) who passed in March 2015. Hank served in the Army National Guard and worked for the McKeesport Daily News. He moved into Grocery Retail Sales with Tenser, Phipps & Leeper and soon after, got an opportunity to do wholesale work with Nestle Candy. He soon became the head of HBA/Candy at Atlas Sales. His biggest opportunity came when the market was starting to talk about new business ventures called “convenience stores”. Hank would become one of the top producers selling “Slim Jim” meat snacks for GoodMark Foods. He was affectionately called “Slim Jim Hank”. Hank was named Candy Ambassador of the Year in 1985 and four years later, inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame in Hershey, PA. He was a past president and board member of the Pittsburgh Candy Club, and in 1989, started the annual Halloween Candy Distribution to patients at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital. Hank had a natural gift to sell, and every customer quickly became a friend. After retiring from his sales career in 1998, he devoted more time to the family business, R-Place Restaurant, Catering and Bakery in Elizabeth Township. Hank took pride in everything he did, and the restaurant was no exception. He loved spending time there, chatting with customers, making waffles on the Sunday Breakfast Buffet, and doing anything he could to help. He and Linda fully retired to Pawley’s Island, SC in 2004 where they lived adjacent to True Blue and Caledonia golf courses so he could golf continuously!! His passion for golf was replaced by his passion to dance in 2017 when he permanently moved back to Elizabeth Township. He was an active member of two dance groups, the Steel City Boogie Club and Swing Pittsburgh - dancing four to five nights a week. Hank loved his work, his golf, his dancing and his family. He is survived by his loving daughter, Kimberly (Russell) Svec, granddaughter Erin Nicole (Kevin) Gibbard, and the greatest joy of his life, his Great-Granddaughter, Amelia Nicole Gibbard. He also leaves behind his sisters-in-law, Arlene (the late Angelo) Shinosi, Donna Titus, and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Josephine (Earl) Miller and Roslyn (Melvin) Phillips, brothers, Nate (Florence), Emmett (Irene), William (Margie), Frank (Lois), and his loyal buddy, “Snickers”. Friends and family are welcome to attend an Open House Celebration of Life on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 2:00 PM -6:00 PM at R-Place Restaurant, 102 Enterprise Street, Elizabeth, PA. In lieu of flowers, Charitable gifts can be made to the Central Highlands Meals on Wheels, 100 Timothy Drive, Elizabeth, PA 15037 or any local Animal Shelter. Arrangements are by the Gilbert Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 6028 Smithfield Street, Boston, Elizabeth Township (412) 751-5000 Drew J. Gilbert, Director. Condolences may be made at Gilbertfuneralhomeandcrematory.com
